Centrifugal air circulating unit



Aug. 31, 1954 J. H. WOODWARD- 4 CENTRIFUGAL AIR CIRCULATING UNIT Filed 001.. 24, 1949 v V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS g- 31, 1954 J. H. WOODWARD 2,687,844

CENTRIFUGAL AIR CIRCULATING UNIT Filed Oct. 24. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 Ja /212mm 3 M141; www

ATTORNEYS g- 31, 1954 J; H. WOODWARD CENTRIFUGAL AIR CIRCULATING UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001:. 24, 1949 mm W ATTORNEYS Aug. 31, 1954 J. H. WOODWARD CENTRIFUGAL AIR CIRCULATING UNIT Filed Oct. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mum um"! i I N VE NTOR za'zz m Ma /1M ATTORNEYS sembly shown in Figure 3;

Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,687,844 CENTRIFUGAL AIR CIRCULATING UNIT Joseph H. Woodward, Miami, Fla.

Application October 24, 1949, Serial No. 123,222

3 Claims. (01. 230-417) This invention relates to a centrifugal air cir that all persons or objects in the area immediately surrounding the unit will be affected by the air thus distributed.

Accordingly, this invention provides a compact centrifugal air circulating unit which comprises a base, a motor mounted thereon, and a particular centrifugal air circulating rotor provided with suitable means. for attachment to the motor drive shaft. Therotor is characterized by a configuration which eliminates the necessity of providing a protective guard for moving parts of the unit. Further, the rotor can be constructed of suitable materials such as metals or plastics which can be colored or transparent and thereby enhance the appearance of the unit. The unit is also provided with means to alter the area of the air inlets to the unit and thus control the direction, volume and velocity of the ex- Other and further objects of the present invention will become ,apparent from a detailed consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 1 Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a rotor for the unit of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the rotor shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan showing the unit of the present invention mounted on the underside of a table top;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the as- Figure 5 is a view in side elevation showing the unit of the present invention placed on a table top;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showing the unit provided with means to facilitate transportation;

Figure -7 is a view in top plan showing the unit of the present invention mounted with a transparent utility stand;

Figure 8 is a view in vertical section of the assembly shown in Figure 7 taken through the longitudinal axis of the unit; a a

Figure 9 is a view in top plan showing the assembly of Figure 10;

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation partly in section showing the unit of the present invention utilized as an attic ventilator;

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation showin the unit of the present invention utilized as a means for interchanging air between separate spaces;

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation of a modified rotor for the centrifugal air circulating unit of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a view in side elevation of another modified rotor; and

Figure .14 is a view in side elevation showing a modified impeller design for the unit of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a rotor for use with the unit of the present invention. A hub I is provided having set screw means which permit rigid mounting on i a motor drive shaft. Projecting from the hub I are radial supporting spokes 2 which are attached to centrifugal air impellers 3. The surfaces 4 of the impellers 3 are substantially uniformly concave. A rim or hollow dome-like member 5 open on both ends and of substantially truncated hemispherical shape encircles the impellers 3 and the outer edge of each impeller 3 is connected to the inner surface of the rim 5. The greatest depth of concavity of each impeller occurs along the line of contact between the impeller and the rim 5. The remaining edges of the impellers 3 are rounded ,as indicated at 6 and I.

The concave impeller surfaces 4 and rounded edges ii and 1 permit the rotor to move at greater speeds with less attendant noise and to circulate greater valumes of air at any given speed as compared to plane surfaced impellers. F-urther the rim 5 cooperates with the impeller 3 to accomplish the above results.

In Figures 3 and 4 is illustrated the unit of the present invention mounted on the underside of a table top 8 which is supported by means of legs' 9. A bracket suspension frame H! is fixed to the undersurface of table top 8 as by screws. The unit generally designated as [2 consists of a motor base I3 preferably of a sound proofing material upon which is mounted a motor 14 as by bolts. The motor drive shaft I 5 has mounted thereon by means of a set screw a rotor it having six impellers 3. The rotor l6 and impellers 3 consitute a structure similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The motor base [3 is securely retained in the bracket It by means of a retaining spring II. The unit I2 can be readily removed from the bracket It by overcoming the force of spring I l. After removal of the unit l2 it can be placed upon a table top as shown in Figure 5 and used in this position. If desired the motor base I3 can be connected to the table top, however, this is optional.

In Figure 6 is shown the unit l2 provided with a protective housing or guard H which encloses the rotor of the unit and is fixed to the motor base. To facilitate transportation of the unit a carrying handle I8 is attached to the housing ll.

In Figures 7 and 8 the unit of the present invention is shown mounted with a transparentutility stand which consists of; ag-lass plate, top 2| supported on plastic legs 22. A plastic platform 23 provided with a central aperture 38 is also mounted between legs 22 below the top 2i. The elements of the stand; can, be; conveniently assembled by means of cement applied to; the; proper joints and connections. The centrifugal air circulating unit is mounted on the platform 23 by having the motor base 3,9 .=s,i1s pended 1therefrom by suitable meanssuch as by bolts 55-. The motor 3.6 is mounted on, motor base, 39 as by bolts and projects upwardly through the aperture 38. The rotor of the unit including a rim 25-, concave impellers 25, and a, disk 3 31having a central.

opening 3% is mounted onthe; motor drive shaft by means of spokes 51 attached between; the impellers 2 5,, and a hub. fixed; on; the shaft by a set screw. This mounting is shown; in Figure 8 The impellers 25 of the rotor extend beyond the edge of the rim 24. The greatestdepth of con-- cavity of the impellers 25 occurs between their rounded edges 31 and 352; asindicated; in Figure '7.

The disk at isv superimp sed. ver he. mpe ler 235. and attached to their upper: ed es. Conse: quently air an assinto he im. 24-1thr ugh;pas.-- sages iil-definedbetweenmotor, base; 3.9V and platform 23 which communicate; with aperture 38'.

and opening 34. and can leavethrough the. open! ings. l! defined bfitweenthe, edge, of; the, disk; 33 and edge of the rim 2,4.

A disk 35 constituting; a; damper is adjustably m unt d on e mot r haftabove he op ning '34; in disk, 33.

V In op o air isd awn. nt h iin h o h. opening 34. and passages 40;; and dischar ed circulated due to the suction elfect of; the; intake air moving through passages 40 I damper 3,5;

is positioned to leave opening 3 3 completely free,

the exhaust air from openings: M will; proceed strai h up and will be bent nwardly duetdthe:

uct on effect f he. ntake, r pa ing. thro h. openin 3 ence e dire ti n-of. he exhaust. air can be varied betweenthese horizontal and vertical extremes bythe. position. of; damper- 35;- relative to opening 34 In Figures 9' and 10 is shown. the unit: of. the. pr nt invention ilized asan attic ventilator...

Asshown, a roof i3, is provided, with, an; opening.

A, flash cylindrical coaming 4B; surrounds. this.

opening and projects. outwardly from roof 4}.

Alsolmounted outside of roof 43,: is. a. protectivev shelter M; supported on; posts 45 attachedtmthe;

The discharged. air:

roof 43. The unit 41 is supported on ceiling 49 by legs 48 rigidly fixed thereto so that its rotor projects through the opening in roof 43. The coaming d6 fits closely about the rotor to prevent undue air leakage. This assembly illustrates a compactness of installation that is possible to achieve With the unit of the present invention.

Figure 11 shows a further way to utilize the unitv for attic ventilation. Here a roof 43 is mounted with a ceiling 56 having an opening by spaced louvres 5!. The unit 4'! is mounted to the roof 43 so that its rotor fits closely over the opening in the ceiling 50. The air from. below ceiling Si} is drawn into the unit 41 through the opening therein and is exhausted from the unit 451. through, the space between the ceiling 50 and roof 43 formed by louvres 5|.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate variations on the external configuration of the rotor of the unit. As shown in Figure 12,, the rim 5t of he rotor constitutes substantially a frustrum ofa cone. The impellers 53 are fixed within rim 5; in. a; manner similar to that shown with respect to, the impellers of Figures 1, and 2. The rotor shown in Figure 13 has a rim '52- the outer surface of which is curved inwardly. In, a like manner to the rotor of Figure 12, impellers 5.61 are fixed within rim 52. A variation of the impeller design is illustrated by Figure, 14-. As shown impellers 55; are currved along their inner. edges as; distinguished from the impellers. shown? in Figures 12 and 13.

While this, invention has been, show-11 and.

described. in specific e1nbodiments-,; nevertheless, various changes, and, modifications obvious 6.0: one skilled in. the-art are within the-spirit scope; and; contemplation; of; the present invention,

I; claim;

l Acentrifugal air circulating unit that.com-- prises a fiat base, a motor mounted on; said base with its, drive, shaft, projecting normal to. said base a hub rigidly mounted on the driyeshafliof; said motor for rotation; therewith impeller a es spo ed wi h sa d h h. a. h wl-l ke member en irclin aid bla es nd th eby encircling, said. motor: and: integral with said; blades at the; points of, contact between said member and said blades; said member havin a central; cutout of a cross section; larger than the: cross section o;f said,

motor; which constitutes. aninlet fonair, and he r m: o a dm mber lying; relatively closelr spaced from said fiat base to define therebetween a 36G outlet for air the-diameter of said member being less, than, of the, planar:

dimensions of said, base; whereby the air discharge from said impellers impinges on1 said;

baseand is thereby; caused to follow: a;- path substantially. parallel to-the plane. of said base and. said member substantially encloses, saithv motor. thereby functioning; asii a. protective guard or housing for said motor.

2 A centrifugal air; circulating unit thatcomprises a. base, a motor mountedon said base with its drive shaft projecting normally. away. from said base; a-. hub. rigidly. mounted onthe drive shaft of said motor for rotation therewith, impeller blades, means connecting said impeller, blades with said hub. Sothat said impeller blades are uniformly spa ed around saidmotor; .0.1: low truncated hemispherical member; open; at. both ends. said member defining an; inle at it smalleitend. for air, aidmember ncircling. aid; impeller blades and: connected: o; thfimiat. th

symme ri ally.- round:v said: motor, spokes connecting said impeller." blades.

beyond the larger end of said member, a disc having a central inlet for air mounted on the projecting ends of said impeller blades to define between said disc and the larger end of said member an outlet for air, said member substantially enclosing said motor and thereby eliminating the necessity for a protective guard or housing for said motor.

3. An ,air circulating unit as defined. in claim 2 wherein means are provide adapted to cooperate with said disc to control the effective opening of said central inlet and thereby control the velocity, direction and volume of air being discharged from the outlet defined between said disc and the larger end of said member,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 690,100 Chodzko Dec. 31, 1901 707,842 Hawkins ...1 Aug. 26, 1902 995,725 Rothenberg June 20, 1911 1,321,378 Kohn Nov. 11, 1919 1,433,995 Fowle Oct. 31, 1922 1,457,113 Langworthy May 29, 1923 1,699,201 Guth Jan. 15, 1929 2,030,993 Langenkamp Feb. 18, 1936 2,331,789 Olson Nov. 23, 1943 

